 I love fashion, clothes, shoes, handbags, makeup and accessorising. I enjoy creating different outfits and combinations and observing what other people are wearing. I love taking fresh ideas from people I meet, blogs I read, and magazines I pore over. Truly, I don’t believe this sets me apart, or makes me unique. I’m a girl after all. It stands to reason I enjoy shopping. I love it so much in fact, I do it for a living.
So why is it I meet women every day who absolutely hate and detest the thought of shopping? There’s got to be a good reason why people like me are even in business – what is it that makes someone break out into a cold sweat at the mere thought of facing fashion retailers?
A few observations from my clients:
- Small boutiques generally have limited sizing, overbearing staff who are commission hungry, and the merchandise is usually a bit higgldy-piggledy.
- Large retail chains have huge selections which can be overwhelming. Disinterested staff who don’t really want to help you even when you’re pleading for someone to take notice, and sometimes the quality isn’t where you want it to be.
- International import brands stores can be prohibitively expensive although the shopping experience is generally better.
What are your own observations and experiences in SA retail environments? Personally, I deal with it every day and perhaps knowing what to expect I have my blinkers on and don’t really notice any more.
Other reasons I’ve found why ladies hate to shop are generally to do with self-confidence issues, body complexes and not knowing how to combine the things they buy with the things they already own. I’ve walked into so many wardrobes where the client says she has nothing to wear, and managed to create loads of fabulous outfits by mixing and matching what’s already there.
Another huge contributor is lack of time. Most of my clients are working women with big, important jobs. So while its important that they always look polished and well-dressed, they simply don’t have the extra hours in the day to spend trawling through the shops looking for snappy outfits.
Women who hate shopping. A sign of the times?
To a T
The T-shirt is the most basic as well as one of the most widely-owned clothing items. A recent poll in America revealed the following about this much-loved basic:
- 91% of respondents admit to owning a favourite T.
- 34% say white is the colour of their favourite T-shirt, nearly double the votes received for blue and black, respectively at second and third place.
- 62% claim to own more than ten T-shirts amounting to 1.5 billion T’s or a line-up that could circle the globe 34 times.
- Gender preference indicates that 70% of men and 54% of women have more than 10 T-shirts.
- 79% of 18-24 year olds have more than 10 T-shirts with 19% of this group owning more than 30.
- The number one reason for the love affair with the T – comfort.
What’s hot about the knot
- The neck tie originated from a silk scarf traditionally worn by Croatian soldiers which, in time,
become known as a cravate.
- The English developed neckwear thick enough to cushion a sword thrust.
- At one point in history, merely touching a man’s tie knot was a cause for a duel.
- British ties usually had stripes running from top left to bottom right while the stripes on American ties
have always run from top right to bottom left.
- Shih Huang Ti, the first Chinese emperor wore a tie as long ago as 210 B.C.
- Americans spend more than $1 billion every year on buying a staggering 100 million ties.
- A good quality silk tie requires approximately 110 silkworm cocoons.
- The city of Shengzhou in China is among the world’s biggest tie producers with about
200 million ties being made every year.
- It is possible to buy a bulletproof tie that can even stop a 9mm bullet.
- A person who collects ties is known as Grabatologist.
- The neck tie constitutes the most popular father’s day gift around the world.
- The Bola tie is the official tie of Arizona, USA.
- Al Pacino won the Tony Award for the best supporting actor in the play “Does a tiger wear a necktie”?
- The American tie industry slumped by 10% in 2002 due to the popularity of “dress down days”.
Thanks, SSAFW
By Rufus Steele
Ooh, topical question! I suppose the best way to answer this question is by asking one in return! If you bought a fake for any reason except for the price difference — what do you expect to get from the deal? Would you buy a fake for any other reason than price?
Thinking honestly — I can’t think of any reason other than ‘making a saving’ for buying a fake bag. After all, surely one of the biggest problems with buying a fake bag is the knowledge that it won’t be made of the same quality material or build? If it doesn’t fall apart within the first 4 — 6 weeks, then you’re lucky. I’d be awfully surprised to find your luck extending much beyond two to three months at most. Even if the bag doesn’t literally fall to pieces, the appearance of it will change hugely. Edges will fray and tear, stitches will pull and shred and the general appearance of the bag will dull, the leather losing it’s rigidity and ability to hold the shape it’s supposed to! S
o the bag that you bought for $150 as opposed to $600 has given you about three to four months use before it is starting to look embarassing, quite frankly! Now, maybe you could buy three of the same bag, save $150 and have something you wouldn’t feel to ashamed to be seen with for up to a year. Just bin the old ruined one, change your bag for a new one each quarter and you’re away.
But that sort of puts you onto the timescale where the authentic designer handbag is just starting to be broken in. It’s gaining suppleness, the leather trims are starting to age and patina, going that gorgeous golden honey color that indicates quality leather.
The bag has a used and loved look about it without any of the nasty signs of wear and tear that an inferior version will have. And this is one of the biggest reasons for the price being what it is.
Quality.
Quality of build and quality of materials used.
Authentic designer handbags are built to last — sometimes they’ll last a lifetime and beyond, making it a family heirloom that’s passed down from daughter to daughter. It is very common for Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags to be in a family for decades — being used and loved all the time.
Some of the newer Louis Vuitton lines, such as the Suhali, can be expected to outlast just about anything else. It’s the quality of the leather you see!
Another good reason for buying authentic and not a fake? You.
Yes — you! You’re important. You don’t think so? (Well, I think you are, even if no one else tells you so!) You deserve something to be proud of, something that stands you out in a crowd and says
“Hey — Look at me, I’ve got taste AND class!”
That’s what an authentic designer handbag will shout for you — no need for you to get a sore throat all the time.
I wonder what a fake shouts out about you?
Careful now – it might be rather rude!!!
Copyright :: Rufus Steele — 2005 Rufus Steele is the author and creator of the Louis Vuitton website 1st 4 Louis Vuitton.
Shopping Sensei Says….
Having just found, read and chuckled about the following article, it’s with a sigh of relief that I can say, “I’ve yet to meet a client as cutting as this…”
My Personal Shopper Is The Worst
By Christine Vesper
November 9, 2005 | Issue 41•45
I called up Alexa at Bergdorf’s Sunday night and told her I needed gloves, a hat, an evening dress, two coats,12 sweaters, a couple hair accessories, a slouchy belt, and some stockings, because I threw my old ones out by accident. I needed a new watch, too—something modern and new but traditional and in platinum—but I just called up Enrico for that, because he knows my hands.
Well, Monday morning rolled around, and then it was Monday afternoon, and I still didn’t have my purchases. When Alexa finally showed up, I understood why she’d taken so long—she had clearly gone out of her way to hand pick the most hideous pieces from the most hideous collections, carefully ensuring, while she was at it, that several of the items were not even in my size. (I’m a Versace 6, a Marc Jacobs 4.)
I don’t understand what was going through her head when she chose that J. Mendel evening dress. Basic black? I’m not trying to buy an evening dress that I’ll be able to wear for years to come, thank you.
I may as well have a colorblind Mongoloid doing the job for me. And her voice. That awful, mousy little mumbled falsetto. “Enunciate!” I said. “It’s no wonder you’re living in a fifth-floor walkup.”
And La Perla bras? Completely off the mark. I told her I wanted sexy, not a bra for my grandmother. If that’s her idea of sensuous lingerie, it’s no wonder she can’t keep a man committed to her.
I try to be forgiving to the poor girl, because I know that it must be hard to be so unattractive, but some of these items go beyond the pale. The Be & D handbag looked like something an insane person would carry. And when I asked her to pick up my dry cleaning, she acted like I was the one out of line. Two words. Service. Industry. Thank you.
I could perhaps have humored her if she came back with two or three gaudy cashmere sweaters. Taste is, after all, subjective. That she brought me 12, however, is more than I should have to endure. I took the sweaters to spare myself the hassle, but Lord knows they’re going to be sitting in the back of my closet unworn ten years from now.
I should have gone with that homosexual with the harelip, Chi-Chi.
I could fire her, but then I would have to go through this incredible bore every afternoon when I go to Bergdorf’s. Besides, it’s more than I can do right now. I’m up to my ears in planning next season’s winter formal. This is a disaster.
Maybe I can just hand the Be & D to a homeless person. They might be thrilled. Wait, Janice Goldman’s daughter adores Be & D. I’ll give Janice the bag next time I see her in the park, pretend this never happened, and just pray that Marie Elaine has fared better.
Since I first laid my poor eyes on them, I have absolutely hated Crocs.
I know I’m not alone in my pain and I also know there are millions of People-Who-Are-Not-Like-Me who actually buy and wear them. My clients are not allowed to wear them. That would reflect badly on me.
I have ranted, I have raved, raged and screamed. Clicked my tongue in disgust. Given the beady eyeball. Fantasised about flash-mobs in which Croc-wearers are bombarded by all manner of cooking ingredients or spray paint.
But I thought I was over it. I have not really noticed them lately. Perhaps as a form of self-protection, denial had kicked in and I’d just refused to see them actually happening.
But on Sunday, the rage overcame me again and ruined my perfect day. I’d been peacefully sitting, enjoying the serenity of a lunch on a beautiful day with gorgeous, hilarious company when these foul things stomped all over my happiness:
Is this an attempt to make the ugly Croc cuter? Are we now going to see ugly renditions of other shoe styles moulded into sickly fluorescent plastic clogs with holes in them?
Oh I don’t know how much longer I can take it!!!
By Karn Knutson
There’s an -ology for everything, but what about the most important -ology of all: Shoeology? Read on to find out what your work shoes reveal about your personality!
Strappy Red Satin
At the office, this is a dead giveaway—you want to be anywhere but where you are. Preferably with some tall, dark, handsome man or with friends that make you laugh so hard you snort. You know you’re smarter than your boss and so does your boss’s boss. When you walk into a meeting with “The Boys,” you take full advantage of being able to keep them off balance, straddling the line between attraction and fear.
Boot Seasoned
You can’t wait for the temperature to drop or the night air to have a chill. You watch the Weather Channel in summer in hopes of a freak cold snap. You love the sound the zipper makes as it crawls up your calf. To you, these boots are sexier than any teetering toe strap and pencil thin heel, especially since you can actually walk in them. Correction—you can stride in them. Confidence is so sexy, especially in a boot.
Preppy Spoken Here
“I am Ivy League. I’ve had boyfriends named Biff, Cliff, and Chet. My sport of choice is brunching at the club. I have had at least one postgraduate degree, earned because I felt I hadn’t devoted enough time to that area during my double major undergrad. When I decide to have children, they will be scheduled—from conception to delivery and all the activities from than point forward. My sense of humour is so dry, on the rare occasion I laugh, I become parched. Please pass the imported sparkling mineral water, crystal glass, crushed with ice and a twist of lime. Not a slice, a twist.”
Faithfully Dull
Far from bewitching, these are the shoes found in offices everywhere. They are the loyal companions of the pantsuit, from the smallest cubicle to the snobbiest of boardrooms. You don’t particularly like being average height, so you found the perfect solution: The shoe version of white noise—always there, serving the purpose of adding three inches, but going mostly unnoticed. Stand tall, little lady—everyone else thinks you are.
The Pain Inflictor
Their piercing presence instills fear in the hearts of men everywhere. They may have their power ties, but you know what really takes command of a room—a wickedly pointed toe flowing down from an equally sharp heel. It gives you a little adrenaline rush every time you glance down and see that point jutting forth from beneath your perfectly tailored trouser. Look out world, look out boys! It’s irrelevant that your toes want to file for divorce every time you slide these killers on, because you wouldn’t trade them for the world. After all, ruling the world is your goal and these are the shoes you’ll be wearing when you conquer it.
Whatever your work shoes reveal about you, take Karn’s advice: “Live a big life. And wear cute shoes.”
While metallics can add a bit of glam and sparkle to an otherwise boring ensemble, it is far too easy to take the look over-the-top. To avoid appearing as if you’ve been attacked by a giant roll of tin-foil, the old mantra “less is more” applies more than ever. One or two pieces of metallic in an outfit is enough.
Unless you approach wearing metallics with the right amount of subtlety, it’s easy to come across as cheap and cheesy.
So how does one keep something as bold as wearing metallics, subtle?
First, there are different types of metallic to consider.
There are your mirror shiny, check-your-reflection metallics, which can be a challenge to wear without appearing over-bling-ed:
There are über-shiny coloured metallics, which I have never seen anyone pull off without looking trashy:
And then there are the muted, softer metallics which are brushed and can look elegant:
  
For shoes, it’s probably worth investing a little extra on good quality, because once your metallics are scuffed, the only place for them is the trash. It’s also important to keep them clean after wearing them. Wipe off any marks or dust to avoid the same trashy feel as scuffs.
When choosing handbags and belts, feel the fabric and decide whether or not it feels cheap and may begin to peel.
If you wear metallic jewellery that is already quite flashy, skip the metallic clothing altogether.
Everyone is doing metallics these days. Overkill? trashy? stylish? What do you reckon?
I just had to share these with you:
Got oil?
Jada Pinkett-Smith I actually just don’t know what to say.
  
Just, gross. Really. Do you agree? Would you change your mind if I told you they were Guiseppe Zanotti, Dolce Gabbanna and Manolo Blahniks?
At least J-Lo has the good sense to appear embarrassed.
What’s our girl thinking? What do you think of this?
And finally, it seems Jada’s been dressing Will too…
Tone it down people! Repeat after me:
“Less is more. Less is more. Less is more…”
I found a fab website called Manology which has absolutely everything a man could need to know for looking good and healthy this summer. They have a huge selection of great recommendations. I spoke to founder Wayne Perry, and here’s what he said:
FACE
Moisturisers
A guy’s skin requirements are going to change with the seasons and so should his products. Most guys will need a lighter moisturiser for the summertime – preferably one with a ‘built-in’ SPF to save the hassle of mixing products and lugging around too many bottles. Also guys that suffer from oily skin would be best to change to an oil free moisturiser as they will find with heat, sweat and humidity that their heavier moisturiser that they were using during the cold winter months will now make their skin oily and give them extra shine. Products such as Baxter of California’s Oil Free Moisturiser and their Super Shape SPF15 Moisturiser are both great products for the summer months.
Cleansers
With the extra heat, humidity and sweat a guy might also find that his t-spot becomes a lot more oilier during the summer months, a good cleaners like men-u’s facial wash would be recommended as it has tea tree oil and witch hazel to help remove dirt and oil and combat any potential blemishes that won’t go down well in the board room!
Toners
Alcohol free toners are also great for combating and controlling excess oil and shine, so definitely something guys with very oily skin may want to consider using during the summer months.
General
Research has shown that looking good at work can give guys a good advantage, so I would also mention treatment products for use on blemishes and ingrown hairs. One such product we about to launch in the next few days is MiN New York Solution2 – a fantastic product for combating shaving rash and ingrown hairs and razor bumps – something that black men in particular are very susceptible to due to the nature of their facial hair growth. Other great products are Baxter of California’s Razor Bump repair and
Nickel’s Smooth Operator ingrown hair gel.
BODY
Sunblock
Most guys already know that UV exposure of any description is a definite way to harm – and age – their skin. What isn’t common knowledge; however, are the basics when it comes to selecting a suitable SPF and using it properly. Most people choose the strength of their SPF based on how deep a tan they want and end up buying the wrong product.
Here are 6 tips for guy’s suncare this summer:
1. To find out how long the sunscreen will last, multiply the time it takes you to burn (with no protection at all) by the product’s SPF to equal the amount of minutes’ protection you’ll get. As a rough guide, it takes a really fair guy about 3-4 minutes to burn whereas a guy with olive or Mediterranean skin can take up to 10 minutes. So for a fair guy an SPF of 15 will last around 45-60mins.
2. Using last year’s stash of sunblock is not a good idea! Products spoil just like food and chances are the sunblock that got them through last summer isn’t going to be as potent 12 months later. While a normal moisturiser with SPF will suffice for the city, something with water resistance is ideal for the beach.
3. They should always apply your sunscreen at least half an hour before they go outside – it has to react with the skin first in order for it to work.
4. Always reapply when using it at the beach and doing other outside activities.
5. An aftersun is just as essential as a sunscreen. Not only will it help repair damage caused by UV exposure but it will calm any irritated skin and redness.
6. Consider using a self tanner to give you a healthy base tan to start with before you go out in the sun.
HAIR
Chlorine, salt and sweat can play havoc on a guy’s hair during summer. So using a decent shampoo AND a conditioner is definitely recommended during the summer months – to keep their hair healthy, looking good as well as easy to manage.
Guys that unfortunately don’t need the use of shampoos and conditioners should still remember to use an SPF moisturiser
on their scalp to protect them from the harsh summer sun.
Dunhill’s Car Watch
Nothing gets a gal’s blood racing faster than a well-turned out, well coordinated guy, who takes care of himself down to the subtlest detail while still appearing rugged and effortless. A favourite men’s look? The matching watch-strap. The strap compliments your shoes, or your belt or both. That’s why I was speechless with excitement when I discovered the Dunhill Car Watch at Dunhill in Sandton. Interchangeable straps mean whatever you wear, you’ll always look polished. Includes stainless steel bracelet, black and tan straps.
High-tech and Innovative
The high-tech, two-part case of the Carwatch is made from either steel or an ultra-light combination of titanium and stage 2 ceramic. In profile, it resembles the lines of a futuristic ‘concept car’.
The front of the watch is highlighted by an engraved ‘number plate.’ This is interchangeable with a supplied blank designed to take the inscription of your choice, such as the registration of your favourite sports car.
Fitted with a Swiss self-winding mechanical movement, the ‘Carwatch’ has a six o’clock date aperture and comes with a calf strap with deployant clasp and a ‘tool kit’ similar to that supplied with vintage cars comprising a stainless steel bracelet and a stud-fastening, calf ‘driver’s strap.’
dunhill Carwatch tool kit
Each ‘Carwatch’ is also supplied with spare screws for the number plate and a custom-made screwdriver.
Inspired by those that traditionally accompanied vintage cars, the dunhill tool kit comes in an aluminium piston head casing, which opens to reveal a canvas and leather roll. Complete with glass vials containing an additional blank number plate, interchangeable stainless steel bracelet or stud-fastening, calf ‘driver’s strap’, screws and a custom made screwdriver, this is the perfect compliment for every aspiring mechanic or petrol head.
A driver´s watch
dunhill´s Carwatch takes a cue from the Edwardian driver´s watches which were designed to be worn on the side of the wrist rather than on the top. That way they could be seen without the wearer having to release his bucking steering wheel.
dunhill´s 21st century take on this idea is to create an innovative, shaped sapphire crystal glass with individually-sized numbers. This means the watch can be worn in the conventional way yet is still easy to read at a glance whether gripping a steering wheel or riding a motorcycle.
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